NATURAL HIGHS & RESILIENCE
Matt Belace has a PhD in clinical neuropsychology. He is the author of the book, “A Better High,” and has been traveling the country as a professional speaker and comedian since 1995. With a mix of comedy and serious messaging, Matt’s presentation will focus on reducing stress, helping the students recognize the natural highs in life and positively changing their perceptions.

TURNING TRAGEDY INTO TESTIMONY

Kyler Erickson is a professional speaker, director of suicide prevention, and an NCAA All-American. He’s been featured in the New York Times, ABC News, USA Today, and Yahoo Sports. After witnessing a shooting at his high school, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Afraid of what others may think, he refused to get treatment. After the worst six months of his life, he admitted he was hurting & received the therapy he desperately needed. His mission now is to help as many people as possible & to erase the stigma associated with mental illness.

WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKET?

By the age of 15, Kelsey Tainsh had survived two bouts with cancer and a life-changing stroke. She has spent the past 10 years learning how to cope with the daily challenges of accepting her new “normal.” In her pocket, she can both hold and hide her secret. Today, she proudly shares it with you and wants to know, “What secrets are you hiding in your pocket?” The key to changing student’s lives lies in teaching and helping them to share and embrace their differences, and the uniqueness of others.

THE POWER OF BELIEVING IN YOURSELF

As an Olympic hurdler and Pan Am Games silver medalist, this Olympian’s reputation was forged through overcoming challenges and achieving the incredible. Just before the London Olympics in 2012 a devastating injury sidelined her. Sarah knew she should have quit at any point during the injury and everyone would have understood. But, she didn’t. Sarah fought to realize her dream and discovered a strength she never knew she had.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Craig is a lifelong educator and a dynamic speaker who has an innate ability to get young people to open up and be vulnerable. He empowers the students by letting them know they are not alone in the challenges they face and that they can offer support to one another.

MONTIVATION

Monti’s passion for helping students stems from the adversity he faced early on in life. Forced to live in poverty due to his mother’s drug addiction, Monti grew up sleeping on cardboard boxes, living in parks, and being abused by foster parent after foster parent. Until 8th grade Monti was in special Ed. classes and was held back on two separate occasions. Despite this adversity, Monti went on to obtain two college degrees, become an award winning poet, published author, activist, and nationally recognized actor appearing in several commercials and shows and currently starring in Tyler Perry’s Bruh.

THE TENACITY TO SUCCEED

Born to a teen mom and abandoned by his biological father, Gabe Salazar could have become a statistic. Instead, his energy, tenacity to succeed and enthusiasm led him to become a motivational speaker for teenagers. To do so he had to overcome obstacles of poverty and gang influence. Using his experiences he inspires teens to go after the very best that life has to offer, so he pursued professional youth speaking as a full-time career.

YOUTH SPEAKER, TEEN EDUCATOR, (SELF-PROCLAIMED) GENIUS

“Those bad things that have happened to you, the baggage that you have, do NOT define you; how you choose to grow from it, will.”

Witty by nature, caring at heart: Scott’s quirky yet powerful style and message speak to students at their own level, helping them to understand the true potential they hold.